On National Small Business Day, we celebrate small businesses and their owners to honor the hard work they do each day! After a challenging year during COVID-19, many small businesses have struggled to stay afloat by either shortening hours of operation, cutting staff, altering menus, or some sadly closing permanently.
Thailand Insider wants to commemorate the amazing Thai small businesses on this special day, including a few small businesses close to our hearts in Los Angeles and New York that have continued to serve their cherished customers over the years. Let’s take a look at the small businesses that serve us each day, from restaurants to markets!
OTUS Thai Kitchen & Coffee in L.A.
Since 2015, OTUS Thai Kitchen & Coffee has served authentic Thai cuisine in West Hollywood. Chef June Intrachat and her team cook famous Thai street foods that blend Intrachat’s childhood memories with traditional Thai cuisine.
Customers dine on the freshest ingredients from local farmer’s markets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with dishes such as Moo Ping, Ba Mee Tom Yum, and fresh beverages including coconut juice and Thai iced tea!
Chef June is the owner of OTUS Thai Kitchen & Coffee. Growing up in Northern Thailand, June’s passion for cooking stemmed from her childhood cooking with her mother. When she came to Los Angeles, the local farmer’s markets and her love for Thai food from childhood led her to create one of L.A.’s best breakfasts called “It’s a Joke,” her signature rice porridge! Chef June also serves grilled river prawns imported from Thailand using charcoal made from rambutan wood! Check it out in our monthly issue here!
Siam Sunset in L.A.
On Sunset Boulevard, Siam Sunset is a neighborhood favorite known for its rice congee and variety of Thai comfort food. There’s a chaotic hum of patrons coming in and out, shouting their orders over the sound of THAI TV blaring in the background. Some of the breakfast favorites are Chinese donuts, sweetened ginger, pork blood soup, and rice congee. Each bowl of rice congee is crafted to perfection, pairing perfectly with fried donuts and sweetened ginger with soft tofu.
If you’re in the Los Angeles area, check out Siam Sunset and browse through their menu!
Bhan Kanom Thai
Hollywood’s little shop in the heart of town is Bhan Kanom Thai, a dessert shop with flavors influenced by the love and pride of Thailand. The name comes from the Thai word “Than,” meaning “House,” and “Kanom,” meaning “Sweets” or “Desserts!”
Bhan Kanom Thai values traditional Thai desserts’ vital role in Thai culture, reflecting the loving, caring, and enjoyable way of life. The dried desserts and snacks are imported to bring a taste of Thailand to the U.S., while most of the fresh desserts are made directly in-house! Check out their Traditional Thai Desserts from their extensive menu of items, including Mango Sticky Rice, Kanom Pui Fai, Thong Eak, Ba Bin, and Pandan Custard!
Pata Market
Upon entering Elmhurst’s Thai market, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into Thailand with authentic Thai snacks, desserts, and groceries lining the walls. Locals stop in to shop some of the most loved Thai foods, including Yum Nam Crispy Rice, traditional Patongo, and rare herbs like Cha-om, holy basil, a tropical species of the acacia family native to Southeast Asia.
In the store, you’ll find deliciously refreshing Durian, a fruit with sweet and custardy flavors. Pata Market frequently offers new desserts so that each visit will be special!
Pinto Garden
Seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients make up the most favored dishes of Bangkok at NYC’s Thai restaurant, Pinto Garden. Founded in 2006, Pinto Garden has been a West Village favorite serving the finest and most vibrant Thai dishes. Chef Yo, founder and chef of Pinto Garden, serves family-style Thai delicacies for an authentic cultural dining experience.
Within their backyard garden, bouquets adorn the walls in a private enclosed area for guests to dine on Thai classics, including seasonal Vegetable Spring Rolls, Moo Kem Tod, Ramp Dumplings, Plant-Based Garlic Chili, Drunken Duck, and more exquisite dishes! Check out their seasonal menu for Summer 2021 here.
Learn more about Thai small businesses from the U.S. to Thailand!
Now that you know a little more about the Thai small businesses, there is much more to be seen and experience yourself, both in the U.S. and Thailand! This list was few of many Thai businesses, but you can find many more in L.A. and New York.
On Thai Times
The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s inaugural issue of “On Thai Times” highlights the many Thai elements found in Los Angeles and pairs them with what shouldn’t be missed the next time you travel to Thailand. The photographic journey highlights the similarities and contrasts between Los Angeles and Bangkok with a compiled list of some of our local Thai favorites. From the cotton candy sunrises to local flower markets, there is much to be seen in our first ever issue of “On Thai Times!” Read the May issue here to learn all about the experiences in Thailand to curb your Thai craving!
